“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” - George W. Bush

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hell Bent on Dragging the US into Another War.

Jerusalem - Israel and the US have agreed to postpone a major military defence exercise, a senior security official said on Sunday, amid rising regional tension over Iran's nuclear programme.

"Israel and the United States have agreed to postpone the manoeuvre planned for spring," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"The exercises will take place between now and the end of 2012," the official added, without elaborating.

Earlier, public radio said the "Austere Challenge 12" exercise would be pushed back to the end of 2012 over unspecified budgetary concerns, citing military sources.

Army radio, citing a defence official, said it was being postponed to avoid "unnecessary headlines in such a tense period".

Weapons drive

The joint manoeuvre was to have been the biggest yet between the two allies, and was seen as an opportunity to display their joint military strength at a time of growing concern about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Israel, the US and much of the international community accuse Iran of using its nuclear programme to mask a weapons drive, a charge Tehran denies.

The postponement appeared to suggest fears the exercise could dangerously ramp up regional tensions, at a time when Iran has already threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a chokepoint for one fifth of the world's traded oil - in the event of a military strike or severe tightening of international sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, the US sent Iran a letter over its threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday, without revealing the letter's contents.

"The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, sent a letter to Mohammad Khazaie, Iran's UN representative, which was conveyed by the Swiss ambassador, and finally Iraqi President Jalal Talabani delivered its contents to officials" in Iran, the official IRNA news agency quoted Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.

"We are in the process of studying the letter and if necessary we will respond."

In December, the Israelis insisted the joint manoeuvres were planned in advance and denied they were related to Iran.

Unease

"The exercise scenario involves notional, simulated events as well as some field training and is not in response to any real-world event," the military said.

The postponement was not expected to affect a visit to Israel by top US military chief General Martin Dempsey, who is scheduled to arrive later this week and meet with Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

But the delay was announced as reports suggested unease in US-Israeli relations over the best response to Iran's nuclear programme, and after an Israeli official voiced "disappointment" at Washington's approach.

Washington has spearheaded a push for international sanctions against Iran, including on its oil exports and financial institutions.

But Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told public radio he thought US President Barack Obama's administration should be tougher.

"France and Britain understand that the sanctions must be strengthened, in particular against the Iranian Central Bank," Yaalon said.

"The US Senate is also in favour, but the US government is hesitating, fearing higher oil prices in an election year," Yaalon said. "It's disappointing."

Assassinations

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, speaking on Sunday ahead of a trip to Britain, also accused the international community of dragging its feet.

"It is regrettable that the international community has not yet used all the means at its disposal to stop the Iranian nuclear programme," he said.

Israel has made no secret of its desire to see crippling sanctions imposed on Iran in a bid to slow its nuclear development, and reports suggest it has also taken other actions to delay the programme.

The Jewish state is suspected of involvement both in a computer worm that reportedly set back Iran's nuclear efforts, as well as a campaign of assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.

Foreign Policy magazine reported that Israel's actions had created friction with Washington, and the Wall Street Journal said on Friday US officials had warned Israel against unilateral military action against Iran.

Yaalon said on Sunday that a military strike remained a last resort for Israel.

"Israel must defend itself. I hope that we will not arrive at that point," he said.

94 comments:

Last I checked you always blamed the rapist for the rape, not the gal.

Iran is the aggressor.

It has been screaming death to America and death to Israel for 30 years, do you not have ears?

When I asked QUirked a few days ago about his guilt about allowing Iran/jihadists to commit a major act of terror on the shores of the USA he got all pissy, saying you cannot blame me, you must blame the murderers.....

SO to you must BLAME IRAN

No nation has to allow it's mortal enemies to be strong enough to genocidally wipe them from the planet. Iran has made no secret of that desire.

SO who is hell bent on dragging the US into another war?

If you were honest you would admit that the USA has been at war with Iran since 1978

Just how many dead AMericans does it take, how many legless does it take till you see the connection?

Iran has never stopped murdering Americans.

Iran supplies arms, training, cash and logistics to terror groups, just as the jihadist FRIENDLY Obama administration. Even they cannot deny the connection of IRan to major terror groups across the globe.

So your title once again shows ignorance and bias.

Maybe if this once great nation had some real balls it could actually put into play REAL biting sanctions, not the bullshit that passes for it now.

The current sanctions are a joke. 1st the PRez is delaying it's start by another 6 months and then and if it is enacted he has signed a presidential signing statement that gives him the right for major exemptions (can you say china and india?)

Dont want war?

They do something besides lead from behind...

Maybe the only "dragging" here is the so called leader of the world back to the position of leadership.

But I think America, under obama, wants iran to get a nuke. Obama wants the chaos.

The absurdity of the US being dragged into another Middle Eastern war is incomprehensible, but so was the the sinking of the Titanic and the recent debacle of the Concordia.

Bibi Netanyahu is determined to do what should be impossible and that is have the US go to war with Iran because certain Israeli and US interests want it. You would think that the US would have had enough recent lessons in Iraq and Afghanistan about the departure of outcome from plan in real world situations of optional war. None of the preposterous claimed predictions by the Bush Administration and their Neocon brain trust of the war in Iraq has come true. It was a needless disaster.

A needless war with Iran would be worse and will be an economic calamity.

It is indefensible that the US allows itself to be shackled to the whims of Israeli politicians and their regime agents in the US.

duece: You would think that the US would have had enough recent lessons in Iraq and Afghanistan about the departure of outcome from plan in real world situations of optional war. None of the preposterous claimed predictions by the Bush Administration and their Neocon brain trust of the war in Iraq has come true. It was a needless disaster.

interesting...

obama triples the troops in apgpak, changes the rules of engagement (so that our folks cannot actually fight) then acts the hero when he calls the engagement off.

My sense is that Obama has underestimated Netanyahu and our idiotic Congress and is trying to stop what may be inevitable. Not inevitable because of need but of circumstance and plan by those that feel they will benefit from a US military engagement with Iran. The economic impact on ordinary Americans would put an end to such influence in the future but a a needless cost.

The perfect outcome for Obama, Deuce, would be to avoid war, but to create enough unease so as to justify a massive release from the SPR in time to drive down gasoline prices the Summer before the election.

The second best happenstance would be for Iran to screw up, and attack one of our ships. He could mount a massive response, and, once again, win reelection (but, WE, would take it in the shorts, hard (and his whole second term would be a disaster.)

Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity. I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality.

“I cannot stand idly by, even though I happen to live in the United States and even though I happen to be an American Negro and not be concerned about what happens to the Jews in Soviet Russia. For what happens to them happens to me and you, and we must be concerned.”

During an appearance at Harvard University shortly before his death, a student stood up and asked King to address himself to the issue of Zionism. The question was clearly hostile. King responded, “When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. possessed a remarkable clarity of vision and purpose. He complemented these attributes with a sound, empathic understanding of the history of human oppression. Dr. King's unequivocal renunciation of anti-Zionism reflected his consistent, courageous opposition to all manifestations of bigotry. Against the backdrop of resurgent Jew hatred worldwide, epitomized by the hypocritical September 2001 Durban Conference on "Racism", Dr. King's candid, thoughtful reflections on the true nature of anti-Zionism are particularly edifying.

Shortly before his death, Dr. King had the moral courage to confront the burgeoning Jew hatred of both extreme leftwing Black organizations, including the Black Panthers and the radicalized Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, as well as the Black Muslims. For example, during a 1968 appearance at Harvard University, he stated bluntly: "When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews, You are talking anti-Semitism." [ from "The Socialism of Fools: The Left, the Jews and Israel" by Seymour Martin Lipset; in Encounter magazine, December 1969, p. 24. ].

King immediately recognized anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism- Judenhass - refusing to indulge what he believed was simply another manifestation of the same hatred confronting Blacks. As Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who worked closely with Dr. King during the civil rights movement, observed last year on Martin Luther King Day,"He knew that both peoples [i.e., Blacks and Jews] were uprooted involuntarily from their homelands. He knew that both peoples were shaped by the tragic experience of slavery. He knew that both peoples were forced to live in ghettoes, victims of segregation. He knew that both peoples were subject to laws passed with the particular intent of oppressing them simply because they were Jewish or black. He knew that both peoples have been subjected to oppression and genocide on a level unprecedented in history."

Ron Paul has a coherent, wide-ranging, principled worldview about politics, a worldview expressed and acted on in a variety of existing institutions, books, news and commentary sites: Paul has a political movement changing the whole view of the world and a life-changing intellectual odyssey through his coherent and thrilling world of books and ideas. Ron Paul is the answer.

You prove my point. You are an ignorant evil unholy man that knows how to shout about ideas before you think about them. Others know the truth and others will come to see the truth. Keep barking like an injured dog.

salaad said...You prove my point. You are an ignorant evil unholy man that knows how to shout about ideas before you think about them. Others know the truth and others will come to see the truth. Keep barking like an injured dog.

Israel holds the world record in the number of homes it demolished.60 thousand +.Israel is the country with the highest record of UN condemnation. 500+ times. Israel is the country with the highest number of protective US Security council vetoes.100+ times. Israel has killed more innocent civilians per capita than any other country.50 thousand+.Israel has imprisoned more civilians per capita than any other country.250 thousand+.

Aint that great that Israel has power and influence?

But the way, you may want to query why arabs get arrested thru-out the world at a rate of 3x than any other nationality

In europe, arabs make up 2% of the population and cause 67% of all rapes, murders and violent crimes..

But understand you cannot demand change and peace with the threat of car bombings and murder.

You want a state? Embrace real peace, not your current vision of a destroyed Israel

For as long as you think you can destroy Israel? You destroy yourself.

If you notice the conflict is simple...

The arabs/palestinians destroy, the israelis/jews BUILD

So instead of devoting 40% of your gross national product to missile and rocket products, I'd suggest learn to grow food, build soccer stadiums, teach loving and caring ethics not how to murder a jew summer camps.

til you learn that?

you are headed for the trash bin of history and get this fact, NOT at Israel's hand, but your own.

Teresita pees on the year of the dragon...they've started the fireworks...it's leading up to the big day though...the day when the firecrackers start from 6am until midnight everymorning everyday everyevening everynight for threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee weeks...

How do you get off topic when the thread is titled "Hell Bent on Dragging the US into Another War." Who is doing the dragging? Why, Thomas the Train, of course...Right...

Obviously, we all know it to be the Jooos. It's not like the proprietor started another thread having to do with conflicted, hyphenated Jooos. Nope. The Jooos done hijacked another story. Bad Jooos! Bad Jooos!

ruined thread? Naw, the place is much more fun when there is blood in the water. Take Salaad's post - quite the indictment of Israel and take a look at WiO's reaction - outrage butressed only by ad hominem attacks which brings out the irony in his statement:

When I asked QUirked a few days ago about his guilt about allowing Iran/jihadists to commit a major act of terror on the shores of the USA he got all pissy, saying you cannot blame me, you must blame the murderers.....

SO to you must BLAME IRAN

Hard to say how to read this WiO. On the one hand, you could be using me as an appeal to authority, suggesting me as an expert, someone to support your position.

Or, it could be a snarky bit on your part implying I am inconsistent in denying any guilt on my part associated with murders caused by Iran while at the same time implying I am blaming Israel for all the sins of the ME.

Based on you past illogical assertions, the red herrings, the non-sequiters, to be honest, the bullshit, I would assume it is the latter.

You can correct me if I'm wrong.

If anyone has paid attention to what I've written on this blog, they know that on numerous occasions I have disavowed the views of many here that are unreasonably critical of Israel.

Because comparing communion to Jeffery Dahmer, communion, a practice that arose from among some of your own group, and originally probably had to do with a feeling of thanksgiving (not our holiday), really is a kind of pissing on corpses.

I can assure you that cannibalism, ritual or otherwise, did NOT originate among "my group" as part of worship.

It has been awhile since I’ve heard you mention that admirable Jewish lawyer friend of “Dad”. In fact, your general attitude toward Jews, as a group, took a sharp turn after you discovered your hatred of me for giving an opinion about your behavior. Shabbat in particular became the object of your scorn. That’s rather insincere, don’t you think?

So, bob, do you choose transubstantiation or consubstantiation? It really is not that tough. Your founder, Dr. Luther, had several answers at the ready.

Magnificent Ronald and the Founding Fathers of al Qaeda

“These gentlemen are the moral equivalents of America’s founding fathers.” — Ronald Reagan while introducing the Mujahideen leaders to media on the White house lawns (1985). During Reagan’s 8 years in power, the CIA secretly sent billions of dollars of military aid to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan in a US-supported jihad against the Soviet Union. We repeated the insanity with ISIS against Syria.